reported.
And this is the problem people are talking about, dentistry is becoming all about upselling people to ridiculous overpriced cosmetic crap.
Some years ago, in my mid-twenties, I decided that it had been long enough since my last visit(5-6 years), and so made a first appointment with a new-to-me dentist.
My wisdom teeth had long since come in, with no problems other than the pain involved.
They did a bunch of initial x-rays on me, then 2 dental assistants did the jab-and-poke routine and wrote down their numbers.
After this, one of the assistants showed me my x-rays, and explained about the dark areas shown at 2 of my wisdom teeth. She explained that if I began flossing regularly, and brushing thoroughly and more than once/day, that the teeth would likely be fine.
A few moments later, the dentist came in and showed me my x-rays, and explained about the dark areas shown at 2 of my wisdom teeth. He explained that these teeth were rotten and needed immediate extraction. I said nothing.
I never went back to that dentist.
What??!!
I’ve never heard of such a thing. I can imagine people signing the form without reading it. I’d like to see them enforce it, though.
I know, I pretty much said the same thing to myself as I scanned the document. Who in the bloody hell would agree to let a dentist pull all your teeth out before you’ve even seen the dentist? 
I wouldn’t check any of the procedures off and signed it with a note: “I do NOT consent to any of these procedures without a consultation, and medical documentation that the procedure is required, first.” They didn’t say a word to me about that (because, like you, I’d like to see that enforced) but it was clear the dentist must have had some lawsuit troubles or he wouldn’t be trying to cover his ass like that.
Like I said upthread, that was just one of about a dozen red flags that I saw in the, oh, maybe 45 minutes I was in there. I’ve never had a dentist before or since ever try to pull that shit on me.
BTW, that is exactly how my mother ended up with dentures at the tender age of 43 (somewhere in there). She got a shyster dentist, to whom she went for an abcessed tooth. Because back in the day, she had no dental insurance (and it was hard to come by), she agreed to an extraction. “Oh, whoops, we pulled the wrong one. Better do another one. Oh, and here’s another rotten tooth–let’s get rid of that one while we’re at it.” By the time she got through a bunch of wrong teeth extracted and resulting infections from piss-poor work, she found herself being fitted for dentures. This scared the ever-lovin’ shit outta me, as I have grown up watching my mom (and grandparents) bitch and moan about all the things they can’t eat because of their cheap, poorly-fitted, crappy workmanship dentures (which was all they could afford). I’m hell bent on not letting that happen to me and when I was in that dentist’s office, I could see how easily that sort of thing can happen if you are not an advocate for yourself and/or you don’t have the spine to say no and seek a second or third or fourth opinion.
A little while ago I had a root canal done.
Before, I was a lot of pain. After, I wasn’t in pain anymore.
So no, I don’t think dentistry is a racket.
I’ve been to several dentists over the past decade, and none of them seem the slightest bit concerned about x-ray exposure. Pano x-rays are supposed to be taken only once every five years, but my dentists call for them once every three years. I had three panos taken within a year because of a problem with one tooth and the specialty dentists and general dentists would not share x-rays with one another. The dental office clerks said they’d be sent but never did send them out. The dental surgeon’s office said that the general dentist’s pano would not be clear enough for them. A former dentist called for x-rays every six months even though I had no dental problems. At a dental surgeon’s office, the assistant was going to take a pano without placing any x-ray shield over my shoulders. In all, I’ve never had any dentist express any concern about x-ray exposure, probably partly due to the fact that x-rays are a relatively easy source of income for them.
You only get one set of teeth in life.
I love my dentist. I’m there three times a year for cleanings, and once and awhile he does a physical from the neck up, checking for throat cancer or other signs of potential problems in my mouth. I have insurance and have seventy percent coverage.
You can avoid dentists all you want now, but eventually you’ll have to pay later.